Swimming device



Jan. 15 1924. 1,43 374 J. WEISS SWIMMING DEVICE Filed March 19. 1923 1: INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented J an. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES- JOHN WEISS, OF POMPTON PLAINS, NEW JERSEY.

SWIMMING DEVICE.

' Application filed March 19, 1923. Serial 1%. 826,013.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN lVniss, a citizen of Germany. residing; at Pompton Plains. in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in swimmin outfits and its object is to pro vide an out t which maybe readily applied to the person of the wearer and which will support the body on the surface of the Water.

Another object of the invention is to provide propelling means b which it is possi ble for the user to readiliir move about from place to place in the water.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention-consists in the novel construction. combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following descriptionand il lustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a, view of a person equipped with my swimming device.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the gas gensrator for producing the float inflating flui Figure 3 is aface view of one of the limb operated propelling devices.

i Figure 4 is a sectional viewta-ken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view of one of the swimming gloves.

Referring to the drawing in detail. the

numeral designates a belt adapted to encircle the waist of the wearer, and secured to said belt is a housing 11 provided with a horizontal partition wall 12 forming a liquid containing chamber 13 and a gas generating chamber 14.

Y Formed at opposite ends of the gas grencrating cham'bcr are gas outlet openings 15 and i6 and threaded bosses 17 project outwardly from the end walls in alincment with the openings providing means for attaching the float inflating tubes to the chamber.

The liquid containing chamber [3 is provided with a filling opening fitted with a closure plug 18 and formed in the parti tion wall 12 is a valved opening 19 through which the liquid is admitted to the chamber 14, where it contacts with a gas forming pilaterial, such as calcium carbide or the ire.

As shown in detail in Figure 2, the valve 20 closing the opening 19, is provided with a valve stem 21 extending through the upper wall of the housing 11 and is formed with a head 22 which 'rovides a handle, pressure upon which will open the valve.

This valve is normally retained in closed position by a spring 23, one end of which bears on a collar 24 on the valve stem, while its opposite and engages the ,U- shaped yoke 25.

Extending through the chamber 13 and communicating with the chamber 14 is a filling tube 26 fitted at its upper end with .a closure plug 27 by which the escape of gas generated in the chamber 14 is prevented.

Connected to the bosses 17 are tubes 28 leading to hollow globular expansible chambers 29 and 30, attached to the belt 10 by snap hooks constituting flexible connections 31 and provide floats by means of which the device is given its buoyancy.

In order that the user may readily propel himself, gloves 32 are provided and are formed between the fingers 33 with web 34.

Further propelling means are provided in vthe form of plates 35, the side edges of which converge toward one end and are provided with eyes 36 for the reception of securing straps, by means of which the device is attached to the limbs of the user.

A longitudinal reeuiorcing strap 37 provided with eyes #38 is secured to one face of each plate cer rally between its converg ing edges and ivoted at spaced intervals as at 39 to the )pposite face of the plate 35 are feathering vanes 40 provided with stops 41 which limit their movements in' one direction.

In use the belt 10 is strapped about the waist of the user and pressure applied to the head 22 thereby admitting water to the gas chamber 14. where it contacts with the gas producing material and creates a fluid of less specific gravity than water, which enters the floats 29 and 30 through the tubes 31, thereby inflating the same. so as to support the wearer on the surface of the water. i 7

Assuming that the gloves 32 and plates 35 have been properly adjusted, it will be seen that the user may readily propel him-' self a bout.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be under stood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed in the appended claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A swimming device comprising 11. waist belt, a gas generator attached thereto, means for supplying said generator with gas making material, said means being provided with a tight closure, inflatable floats, flexible means connecting the floats with the belt, said floats being removable and inde pendent outlet tubes connecting the generator and floats whereby gas generated in the generator will enter and inflate the floats.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN WEISS. 

